Metropolitan Initiative

The Metropolitan Initiative was developed by the New York City Soil and Water Conservation District to introduce a strategy for partnership between farmer producers and urban consumers. Urban consumers rely on agriculture for affordable price and good, locally grown quality products, and advocate high quality of water (both for consumption and recreation), and protection of open spaces and natural resources. The NYC Soil and Water Conservation District has been working with urban conservators to protect and restore our local natural resources. These urban stewards are committed to conserving soil and water and nurturing forests to clean our air and are the first line of defense in protecting our natural resources. The NYCSWCD also acts as facilitators and initiators for initiatives that the stewards would like to undertake and as a fiscal conduit for our partners applying for the Clean Water Bond Act grants.

This is a partnership program between the USDA, NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, and the Lower Hudson /Long Island Resource Conservation & Development Council on which the NYC Soil and Water Conservation District has 6 board members. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have shown interest in helping to develop water and rail transportation for agricultural products to the city. The partners are presently exploring municipal interest in developing sites for these wholesale distribution markets.

The National Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils